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Watch Your Step!, August 25
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Proverbs 4:26
.
“Make straight paths for your feet,” says the apostle, “lest that which
is lame be turned out of the way.”
Hebrews 12:13
. The path that leads
away from God, away from His holy, perfect standard of right, is always
crooked and dangerous. Yet ... many have been walking in this path of
transgression. In many cases they did not start right in childhood and
youth, and they have pursued crooked paths all the way along. Not only
have they erred from the right way themselves but through the influence
of their example others have been turned aside from the straight, plain
path, and have made fatal mistakes....
We do not always realize the power of example. We are brought in
contact with others. We meet persons who are erring, who do wrong in
various ways; they may be disagreeable, quick, passionate, dictatorial.
While dealing with these we must be patient, forbearing, kind, and gentle.
Satan works through them to provoke and harass, so that we shall not
exhibit a pleasant and lovable disposition. There are trials and perplexities
for us all to encounter; for we are in a world of cares, anxieties, and
disappointments. But these continual annoyances must be met in the spirit
of Christ. Through grace we may rise superior to our surroundings, and
keep our spirits calm and unruffled amid the frets and worries of everyday
life. We shall thus represent Christ to the world....
Consecration to God must be a living, practical matter; not a theory
to be talked about, but a principle interwoven with all our experience.
We should let our light so shine before others that they, seeing our good
works, shall glorify our Father who is in Heaven. We should show forth
the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous
light. If the light of Heaven is in the soul, it will be reflected to all around
us. I wish all could see this important subject in its true light. There
would not then be such thoughtlessness of words and acts, such careless,
indolent, irreligious living.
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